Red Wolves players visit New Orleans children hospital

2015-12-18T04:08:46Z2015-12-18T04:10:58Z

The A-State Red Wolves are busy gearing up for the big game on Saturday against Louisiana Tech, but a few of the players got to take a break from football Thursday to connect with some children at a New Orleans children hospital.

The event had an effect on both the patients and players.

“It is great to give back anytime,” A-State player Jamal Jones said. “And to be somewhere like this… I have other people in my family in predicaments like this, so it’s just great.”

Freshman Red Wolves visited several patients at the hospital to brighten their day.

They brought the patients gifts including signed posters, hats and footballs.

“We’re talking to them, trying to see how they feel about the situation,” Jones said.

One special patient even got a birthday song from the football players.

Brittney Allen has been a patient at the children’s hospital for years and she said visits like this lift her spirits.

“It is very cool to have people coming in, smiling, making you laugh,” Allen said. “It’s very good because it can be so low when I don’t have visitors, but when they come it brightens me up.”

Not only did the players crack jokes with Brittney, but they also gave her some study advice as she heads to LSU for college.

“So, they got a chance to tell Brittney how to do a time management thing,” said Marsha Nero, Brittney’s mom.

Brittney’s mother said being in the hospital during this time can be hard, but young men like the A-State players make it better.

“It’s the holiday time, they are sick and it just makes a smile on everyone’s face,” Nero said.

The hospital visit is just one of many events the Red Wolves are participating in during their time at The New Orleans Bowl.

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